Slack-adjuster



(No Model.) 7 H. S. GQUGHNOUR.

SLACK ADJUSTER.

No.5-50,045. Patente"dN0v.19,1 895.

1 I HIHHHEMIIHI J T A Y /\1 WITNESSES; F INVENTOR I m 4-. 1% XWMI UNITEDSTATES I PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY S. GOUGHNOUR, OF J OHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO THEJOHNSON COMPANY, OF LORAIN, OHIO.

S LACK-ADJUSTER.

SiECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,045, dated November19,1895.

Application filed September 14, 1895- Seria1No.562,530. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY S. GoUGHNoUR, of J ohnstown, county ofCambria, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Brake-Rigging for Railway-Oars, of which the following isa true and exact description, due reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

7 My invention relates to certain improvements in brake-riggingforrailway-cars, and has for its object to provide a simple andefficient means for adjusting the length of the tension-rods. I

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a side view of a portion ofbrake mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top View of Fig. 1.r r

1 is the customary brake-beam, extending across the truck and carryingthe brake-heads 2 and shoes 3, adapted to engage the wheels. The shoe isbrought into engagement with the wheel by means of a pull upon rod 4 andis normally held away from the wheel by means of a spring. (Not shown.)As the shoe 3 and other portions wear, it becomes necessary to adjustthe length of the rod 4, and it is to provide means for this adjustmentthat my invention is intended.

The rod 4 is split on its end so that it passes each side of thebrake-beam 1. Through a slot 5 in the forked end of the rod pass the twokeys or wedges 6 and 7, which may be held in position by means of thesplit keys 8, passing through holes 9 in the wedges.

To increase the working length of the rod 4, it is only necessary toremove the keys 8 from one or both of the wedges and slip them out alittle, so that they do not occupy so much of the slot 5, thus allowingthe beam 1 to drop back a little. Similarly, to take up wear it is onlynecessary to push the key 6 or 7 through a little farther.

I do not confine myself to the precise construction shown, as varioustypes of brake mechanism may require variations of the exactconstruction here shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protectby Letters Patent, is-

In a brake rigging for railway cars, in combination, a transverse brakebeam, a longitudinally extending brake rod, said rod having a forked endadapted to embrace the brake beam, a slot in said forked end, and a pairof wedges in said slot and adapted to act upon said brake beam, andmeans for locking said wedges in position.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

HENRY s. GOUGHNOUR.

\Vitnesses:

S. G. BOUN, WARD RAYMOND.

